#5 Sauber to finish as the new "Best of the Rest"
After 2 dismal years, Sauber were firmly back in the midfield scrap in 2018 and the Swiss team are on a huge upward trajectory going into this season. Sauber may have lost Charles LeClerc to Ferrari but they've gained 2007 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen in return from the Scuderia.
Marcus Ericsson had been branded as the worst driver in the sport in previous years, but the Swede had a solid season last year, possibly as a result of upping his game against LeClerc. Also joining the Hinwil outfit is Antonio Giovinazzi, who had a few races for the team back in 2017.
Raikkonen had a superb 2018 and despite his age, the Finn's still producing some of the best performances of his long and illustrious career. Force India were the only team outside the seemingly perennial top 3 teams stood on the podium in 2018 and I believe Sauber could repeat the feat in 2019.
I don't see any of Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull falling away and Renault should join them in the top band of teams, but Sauber could well be the next highest-placed team in constructor's championship come Abu Dhabi '19.